Vivian Shipley - 'Cargo'

The video features a professor from Southern Connecticut State University discussing her poetry, particularly focusing on her book 'An Archaeology of Days'. She reads her poem 'Cargo', which won the 2018 Poetry Prize, and reflects on the themes of suffering and evil in the world. The poem draws parallels between a wounded bird and human suffering, highlighting the importance of empathy and bearing witness to others' struggles.

What is the main theme of the speaker's recent book?

• The history of Southern Connecticut

• Modern poetry techniques

• Preservation of Kentucky heritage

• The life of a professor

What challenge do poets often face according to the speaker?

• Understanding the world's suffering and evil

• Balancing work and personal life

• Writing in different poetic forms

• Finding inspiration in nature

What event is paralleled with the plight of the plover in the poem 'Cargo'?

• An immigrant tragedy in Texas

• A natural disaster

• A personal family loss

• A historical war

How does the speaker describe their reaction to the suffering depicted in 'Cargo'?

• Indifference and detachment

• A desire to ignore it

• Complete understanding and acceptance

• A struggle to reconcile with it

What moral dilemma does the speaker face at the end of the poem?

• Whether to help the plover or not

• Whether to teach poetry or prose

• Whether to return to Kentucky

• Whether to write more poems